What makes a "veteran" chaser.

[Bob Hartig]

Well Put By A Very Very Very Modest Chaser I Am Sure!!

LOOK AT ALL THE VETERANS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS THREAD!! TRULY AMAZING!!

Thanks, Matt, but I have plenty of reason to be modest. There are a lot of chasers on this forum with more skill and experience than I have. I'd be absolutely horrified to have anyone tag me as a veteran. I'm not even close--I'm just a dumb but happy learner with plenty of dues left to pay who's too low-key to mess with lightbars.

Mark Blue has just done a pretty good job listing some names which I think most on this forum would agree have achieved "veteran" status. Add to that list Gene Rhoden, Paul Sirvatka (who never gets mentioned but IMO belongs), Eric Rasmussen, and of course, Chuck Doswell. And I'm thinkin' those veterans couldn't care less what anyone calls them, because they never were into labels to begin with. They were just nuts about storms.

 

[Steve Miller]

On a lighter note, I'm glad to see the tone of the thread change as the first several posts played out like a scene from the movie, "Grumpy Old Men".

Mark, thanks for noticing... This subject comes up nearly as often as light bars and is equally controversial with no end result. If you like these types of threads, carry on.
I personally like to talk about the weather & that's why I'm here. When new people who show up here supposedly to talk about weather, I'm not sure the best idea is to open with a thread about ranking of storm chasers.

I'm just saying.

Mark Blue has just done a pretty good job listing the name which I think most on this forum would agree have achieved "veteran" status. And I'm thinkin' those veterans couldn't care less what anyone calls them, because they never were into labels to begin with. They were just nuts about storms.

Not sure any of these people actually still exist here... They have gone to the Veteran forum.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Not sure any of these people actually still exist here... They have gone to the Veteran forum.

True. A few of them still lean in from time to time, though, and it's great when they do since they invariably have helpful insights to share. I also think we've got a few "regulars" here who are approaching veteran status, but I doubt they're looking for anyone to pin a medal on their chest.

 

[William Reid]

"Veteran" conjures up images of old, worn-out folks, well past their prime in their lifetime endeavor(s). I'm not really sure that I want to reach "veteran" status! I would prefer "experienced" or "accomplished". Most chasers who have spent 10-15 years on the Plains chasing for a couple of weeks (at least) each spring have reached this level, in my humble opinion.

It took me a good 4 to 5 years of chasing before I felt like I had a clue. It took me about 10-12 years before I felt relatively comfortable with my forecasting skills, and satisfactorily familiar with severe storm morphology and development. Nowadays, it is easier to be on better storms earlier and longer, so the road to "veteran chaser" status is faster than 15-30 years ago. Also, I don't think that the number of tornadoes seen or not seen should be part of the equation...though I suppose you could categorize the "experienced chasers" into smart veterans, dumb veterans, lucky veterans, eternally-jinxed veterans, etc.

Having said that, just for fun, here are some criteria which likely apply to veteran chasers:

They chased prior to Mr. Roboto.

They chased when Doswell had hair.

Their first camcorder used real film, and their first highlights video had no audio.

They knew where the NWS offices in Scottsbluff, Grand Island, and Colorado Springs were.

They had to deal with 55-mph speed limits, even in the middle of nowhere, for years and years, thanks to Jimmy Carter.

They had one of their radio push-buttons set to 530 AM.

They chased before the F-scale had been invented, and before Bill and Jo visited Wakita.

After they saw a tornado, there was no one else around to discuss it with...and they had to wait a week or two to see if the images that they captured came out or not.

They chased when rooms at Super 8 were 8 bucks, and when all they wanted at a motel was a room with cable TV and TWC, a phone jack, and a three-pronged electrical outlet.

They knew their NGMs from their LFMs.

Finally, a veteran chaser is one who chased when stormchasing wasn't cool.

Bill Reid

 

[Dan Robinson]

Literally speaking, 'veteran' is synonymous with 'experienced'. As such, the term 'veteran' IMO doesn't bestow any type of 'badge of honor' or virtue on a person. It's simply a descriptor citing the length of time one has been involved in an activity. That's not to take away any honor or respect from the original 'veterans' of chasing cited in this thread, but it's almost as if no one else can ever be described by that term.

One could be the most mediocre chaser out there - yet if he/she has been doing it consistently for over 10-15 years, spending their own gas money, driving thousands of miles every season - by literal "dictionary" definition, the term fits. Again, not that it makes any real difference other than fodder for off-season discussion.

 

[Danny Neal]

As was said before, just being recognized as a chaser is enough for me..... but if I had to label myself I will put it like Shane Adams referred to me as a couple weeks ago during DEBRIS...... a seasoned chaser.

 

[Paul Hadfield]

Veteran Chasers are a dime a dozen... the real question we should be asking is "What defines a Legendary Chaser?" lol

 

[Bill Schintler]

Veteran Chasers are a dime a dozen... the real question we should be asking is "What defines a Legendary Chaser?" lol

Why, that would have to be myself....

- bill

 

[Jason Boggs]

Why, that would have to be myself....

- bill

No it's not darn it! It's me and that's final!!!

 

[cedwards]

What does a veteran chaser have to do with storm chasing? A veteran chaser is someone who chases people who served in the armed forces.


I guess it is more related to a groupie for a rock star.

 

[Jeff Passner]

I'll add one little part of the definition: A "veteran" chaser is one who actually respects nature. The veteran does not scream with joy as homes are destroyed. A veteran parks off the road and respects other chasers. A veteran does not ruin their video with constant curses and hard breathing..

One thing for sure --- there are good chasers and bad chasers but the main thing is getting out there. If you don't go, you see nothing. A "veteran" chaser taught me that....

 

[jamesmseitz]

I've derived an equation for determining whether someone is a veteran or not

((N+W)*(V+R)*(G+T)/B)+M = Veteran Rating

Oh boy, I don't even want to figure out ranking categories for this one!

This is Great !!!! Scott.... Love it. As for the topic. My veiw is if you need or want the label for some reason you probably need a few more years.

Of course there are going to be someone more experienced then you. I am always looking to learn for anyone and anything in Chasing and life.

P.S. On the blown Forcast..... I think I have more of those then my successful ones

 

[Lucy Blinebury]

One thing for sure --- there are good chasers and bad chasers but the main thing is getting out there. If you don't go, you see nothing. A "veteran" chaser taught me that....

True that. If you dont get out there and chase... how will you ever learn?
The more time you spend in the field, the more your knowledge and experience will improve.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Everyone rest easy, the true definition as to what a vet chaser is was finally posted by the master of all chasers him self... Colin Arellano.

I am a seasoned veteran. They use my photos and video on TWC weather warriors all the time. If you have seen more than 10 tornadoes a year for 5 years you are a veteran

Thank god we have his unsurpassed chasing knowledge and experiences to guide us all towards the path of greatness he has laid out with his bowling ball sized hail and filming of tornadoes from 50ft away as he took shelter from behind a concrete wall.

 

[Bob Hartig]

It's good to know that someone has finally and definitively set the standard. I guess we can call it quits for this thread--no point in taking it any further.